I was asleep on the floor of the magicians' apartment. Not one, but three magicians lived there, and their mysterious, mischievous, and sometimes...
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Customer Comments

Holly Wehmeyer has commented on (5) products.

Holly Wehmeyer, August 4, 2012

An excellent book surveying public transportation in various cities around the world... The United States is so far behind places like Copenhagen, but the author does point out some positive steps that the U.S. has taken. I enjoyed reading about the author's adventures riding buses in South American and trains in Japan. Highly recommend this book if you care about public transportation and wish we could get rid of more of the automobiles. Although, I'm sure the book will be preaching to the choir. I doubt people who hate public transport will give it a chance. Just as I would probably NOT pick up a book called Cars Are Good for the World. :-(

Holly Wehmeyer, September 29, 2008

Although there is no magical realism in this novel, the story is surreal and lyrical and very much in that vein. I didn't always know right away which character was speaking, but that seems a minor quibble, because the stories are so compelling. I look forward to reading more from Saudia Arabian authors! I wish more publishers would invest in translation.

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Holly Wehmeyer, September 22, 2008

The writing in this book was so gorgeous that I didn't want it to end - and there are over 500 pages! The stories intertwine, of course, but many could easily have stood on their own. Hill has a way of creating beatifully realized characters, even if they only appear momentarily. This was one of the best books I read in 2008. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Holly Wehmeyer, September 22, 2008

Pinsky's translation is the perfect version for contemporary readers. He uses slant rhyme or near rhymes to perserve Dante's terza rima, but doesn't force the issue where it would create awkward passages. He uses bold, everyday language. I think this is a good translation for a first-time reader of the Inferno. After this, you can move on to the Ciardi or Hollander translations. My only question is this: When does his translation of the Purgatorio and Paradiso publish?

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Holly Wehmeyer, September 22, 2008

Billed as the first true spy novel, Riddle of the Sands is an old-fashioned adventure story mostly set on a sailing ship along the coast of Germany. This book is filled with wonderful descriptions of shipboard life and sailing. It's written in a style I can only describe as genteel. This is a book to curl up with as the weather turns colder. Take your time and savor it.

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